From pork cutlet and fish-cake soup to cup ramyun at the summit and fried chicken after night skiing: a menu guide to Korean ski resort food so you don't freeze at the kiosk.
Forget the $25 sad cheeseburger you get in Aspen.
Ski food in Korea is an entire culinary genre. It is hot, spicy, hearty, and designed to thaw you out from the inside.
Best of all? It's cheap, at least by resort standards.
Here is your menu guide so you don't stare blankly at the kiosk.
1. The Classics (Cafeteria Staples)
- Donkatsu (Pork Cutlet): The king of ski food. A massive, deep-fried pork cutlet served with rice, cabbage, and sauce. It gives you the 2,000 calories you just burned.
- Udon / Eomuk Tang: Thick noodles in hot broth with fish cakes.
- Yukgaejang: Spicy beef soup with vegetables and rice. This is the ultimate warmer if you can handle spice.
2. The Snacks (Base of Slope)
- Tteokbokki: Spicy rice cakes.
- Churros: For some reason, Koreans love churros at ski resorts.
- Ho-ppang: Steamed buns filled with red bean or pizza sauce.
3. The "Summit" Experience
At the top of the gondola (Dragon Peak at Mona Yongpyong or the summit of High1), there is always a snack bar.
- The Move: Buy a "Cup Ramyun" (Instant Noodles).
- The Vibe: Standing outside at around 1,400m, eating spicy noodles while looking down at the clouds. It is a spiritual experience.
4. The Night Ski Tradition: Chimaek
You finish skiing at 10 PM. You are starving.
You do not go to sleep. You go to a fried chicken shop in the village.
- Chimaek: Chicken + Maekju (Beer).
- Han's Tip: Order "Half and Half" (Fried and Spicy Yangnyeom).
Han's Verdict
Don't pack sandwiches. The food is half the fun. Just bring a credit card, since many kiosks are now card-only. For more on what to eat after the lifts close, see our après-ski food guide.